why is mary magdalene called lilith in the chosen

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And just like one day the risen Jesus will reveal himself to Mary and free her from grief and fear by calling her name, Jesus first reveals himself to "Lilith" and frees her from her grief and fear and demons by calling her by her true name, Mary. Over the past year, we've been exploring how The Chosen adapts biblical characters like Mary Magdalene, Nicodemus, Peter, Andrew, Matthew, Jesus, and the Romans. You may want to warn students beforehand that this episode contains some demonic activity. [Spoilers] Did anyone else misinterpret the HotD Finale? Expert Answers: The Gospels never refer to Mary as Lilith. Lilith here could just mean demon possessed. LOTR, Harry Potter), In [adaptation], can you think of some characters or stories that were added by the film? Click here for my affiliation policy. Why do you think The Chosen depicted Mary as a prostitute? Narrative Ambiguity & Charitable Reading, The Chosen: 6 Good Friday & Easter Episodes, The Rings of Power, LOTR, and Bible Adaptation, Amazon Prime's The Rings of Power & The Challenges of Biblical Adaptation, In Defense of The Chosen and Other Christian Movies, Books, & Media (Part 1), In Defense of The Chosen and Other Christian Movies, Books, & Media (Part 2), Imagining Mary Magdalene (5 More Bible Adaptations While You Wait for The Chosen Season 2), The Chosen Season 3 Episode 6: Recap, Review, & Analysis, Intensity in Tent City (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 6 with Youth or Small Group), The Chosen Season 3 Episode 5: Recap, Review, & Analysis, Clean Part 2 (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 5 with Youth or Small Group), The Chosen Season 3 Episode 4: Recap, Review, & Analysis, Clean Part 1 (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 4 with Youth or Small Group), The Chosen Season 3 Episode 3: Recap, Review, & Analysis, Physician, Heal Thyself (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 3 with Youth or Small Group), Two by Two (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 2 with Youth or Small Group), Little James in The Chosen & Scripture (Adapting Biblical Characters), Homecoming (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 1 with Youth or Small Group), John the Baptist in The Chosen (Adapting Biblical Characters), Lilith, Demons, & Evil Spirits in The Chosen (Adapting Biblical Characters), 2022 BY THE BIBLE ARTIST. Over time, the label stuck and now many adaptations depict her this way. I have not seen any anti Catholic scenes. Describe a pencil. One challenge that film adaptations of Jesus' life need to overcome is the lack of significant female characters. As I noted above, in the Bible there is no indication that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. The first passage is regarding Mary Magdalene (Lilith): In case you didn't catch it, at the end of The Chosen episode 1 we discover that the character called Lilith for most of the episode is actually named Mary Magdalene. You can also purchase the DVDs of season 1 on Amazon if you're worried about trying to stream & do Zoom at the same time. In The Chosen, Mary Magdalene is played by Elizabeth Tabish. every time a new character showed up. That being said, there's no biblical reason to think that she could not have done so. Since I criticized Season 1 of The Chosen for making Mary too perfect, it's only fair that I acknowledge how Season 2 seeks to rectify that issue. The Bible includes Mary Magdalene in a list of women who had evil spirits healed by Jesus. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The episode with the woman at the well in the season finale could have been an interesting opportunity to bring her character into conflict with the other male disciples, but this opportunity was also missed. She was a witness of Jesus' crucifixion and burial (Mark 15:40-47) and also the first person to discover the empty tomb, witness the resurrected Jesus, and share the good news with the disciples (John 20:1-18). How does that truth encourage you? Catholic priest burned to death, another shot in north Press J to jump to the feed. 1 ) Kathleen McGowan Kindle Edition are three Christian Goddesses, making up a female.! Dallas mentioned how some viewers didn't like that Mary fell back into old ways, which seems ridiculous, but just goes to show how out of touch some people are with both real life and how stories work. Episode 8 Guide: The Woman at the Well, Eden, & Zohara, Christmas with The Chosen: The Messengers, The Chosen Season 2 Controversy (Jesus, the Bible, & the Process of Inspiration), Should Nicodemus Kneel? In The Chosen, it is not entirely clear whether Mary Magdalene was engaging in prostitution before the events of Season 1, Episode 1. Lilith was close to committing suicide by walking off a cliff before a dove (Holy Spirit) caught her interest and she followed it back to town, where she had an emotional moment being healed by Jesus who quoted her trusted childhood Bible verse from Isaiah and exorcised her with a hug. (for LOTR: Arwen's bigger role, some action scenes. And the parallels don't end there. However, I'll acknowledge that what the show is suggesting about Mary's past life is certainly open to interpretation.]. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. I've condensed the lesson into an easily printable pdf below. I wouldn't take too long discussing these questions. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Did anyone notice what it was that made her recognize him? What do you think Mary's life was like before Jesus showed up? This is not a theologian or an apologist. As a general rule, the characters who follow Jesus aren't bad people; they're misunderstood and rejected and in need of love. In the Bible, there is no indication that Mary Magdalene was raped. Without getting too detailed, I found it helpful to get my youth thinking about what adaptations are and how they work. The Hebrew word "lilit" only shows up in Isaiah 34:14, where most modern translations render it as something along the lines of "night bird." What distinguishes Mary from the other women, however, is her association with prostitution. Her association with prostitution was a result of the proximity between the first mention of her in Luke (. Everything is very true to the Gospels, and theres no dialogue written to score theological points. Do you believe Jesus knows you by name? Season 2 Reflection P2: What was The Chosen Season 2 about? He attempts to heal her and exorcise the evil spirit in her, but he is unsuccessful and concludes that she is beyond hope. Just long enough to make this point: Adaptations often add, change, and leave out details, because what works in a book isn't always the same as what works in television or film. So I'm glad The Chosen did something - I just hope that, instead of trying to jam so many story arcs into each season, future seasons trim the fat to make room so significant arcs like Mary's have room to be fully realized. But she was not possessed by one as the movie mentioned but by many. As COVID drags on and winter sets in, if you're looking for a good activity to do online with your youth group, you might want to consider doing a series of The Chosen Viewing Parties like this. It is an excellent form of Lectio Divina. Consider how the show depicts Jesus' first appearance. The implications of Mary living in the "Red Quarter" are still there. I admire your comment. Normally I wouldn't care but this is a movie about Jesus, and if the people behind it are trying to do good, but it is a great disservice for me to bad-mouth it until the full plot is revealed. The ancient name Lilith derives from a Sumerian word for female demons or wind spirits. In the Bible, there is no indication that Nicodemus met Mary Magdalene or that he tried to heal her or exorcise her evil spirits. The specific demon is not named in Scripture. Many characters and stories are based on events in the Gospels, but there are also characters and events that the creators made up to tie things together. In my opinion it works. Yes, there are plenty of women who show up in the Gospels. Over time, the Western artistic tradition repeatedly depicted Mary as a prostitute and the mistaken association got stuck in the cultural consciousness. FYI: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. While watching the show, I made occasional comments through the chat but I tried to not do too much teaching - I wanted the youth to enjoy The Chosen and not just see it as an elaborate preaching illustration. Mary Magdalene was a female disciple who traveled with Jesus during his ministry (Luke 8:1-3). Hopefully these questions will prove helpful as you watch episode 1 of The Chosen with your youth group. Until Jesus shows up, some youth may find the show a little slow. Although, like Nicodemus, the account of Jesus' life in the Gospels tells us relatively little about her, the part that she plays as the first witness to the Resurrection is objectively much more significant. Season 2 Reflection P2: What was The Chosen Season 2 about? Just like one day Mary Magdalene will be caught up in despair because she can't find Jesus' body, she's caught up in despair at her own situation. As a result, adaptations of the Gospels from previous generations place a greater emphasis on how Jesus calls Mary to repent and brings about her moral transformation. After Mary's encounter with Jesus, we never really get to see her deal with her former life. This allows the show to be more family friendly, but it also weakens the narrative that the show is telling about Jesus' compassion and pity. The Chosen seems to be hinting that Mary is a prostitute (e.g. Episode 7 Guide: Did Nicodemus Follow Jesus? Luke briefly describes how Mary Magdalene was exorcised by Jesus and became one of his traveling followers (Luke 8:1-3). All four Gospels suggest Mary was the first witness of the resurrected Jesus (Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24:1-11, and John 20:1-18). They were fully engaged by the show on the level of entertainment but also seemed solidify their understanding of important gospel events and figures, as well as the cultural context. Mary Magdalene was a disciple of Jesus. By. In a previous era of Hollywood Mary's status as a prostitute made her exotic and intriguing. What distinguishes Mary from the other women, however, is her association with prostitution. An adaptation like The Chosen isn't meant to replace the Bible; it's meant to drive us deeper into the Bible and spiritual reflection. we first meet her as a client flees her place in "the Red Quarter"), but it's relatively disinterested in depicting what her life as a prostitute was actually like. Over time, the Western artistic tradition repeatedly depicted Mary as a prostitute and the mistaken association got stuck in the cultural consciousness. This is symbolically tied to her encounter with another demon, Belial, who calls Mary Lilith, asserting the continued existence and power of her old identity. When Nicodemus encounters her, we discover that the evil spirit that is possessing her is named Lilith. The Chosen invents this story to illustrate biblical teachings about Jesus' grace and forgiveness. Mary Magdalene is never called Lili or Lilith in the Bible. It's a great comfort in the midst of the pandemic and other turmoil. PROUDLY CREATED WITH WIX.COM, Mary Magdalene in The Chosen (Adapting Biblical Characters), Mary and Nicodemus in Season 1 of The Chosen, The important role that Mary Magdalene plays in The Chosen is not nearly as surprising as that of, Be that as it may, the Gospel of Luke tells us that there were women who went Jesus and names Mary Magdalene among them (, But why does Mary Magdalene get all the attention and not Joanna or Susanna, who are also mentioned? I would have introduced her PTSD much earlier in the season, giving her more space to try to struggle with it on her own before eventually falling back into her old life. The Hebrew word "lilit" only shows up in Isaiah 34:14, where most modern translations render it as something along the lines of "night bird." That being said, there's no biblical reason to think that she could not have done so. In The Chosen, when we first Mary Magdalene in Season 1 Episode 1, she has already been possessed by evil spirits for some time. Because The Chosen seeks to be kid-friendly, it may use the term "Red Quarter" in order to hint to older viewers that Mary is either a prostitute or a sexually immoral woman without explicitly mentioning prostitution or sex. However, In the Bible, there is no indication that Mary Magdalene fell back into sin, backslid, or left Jesus. There are a few Bible passages that I thought were helpful to discuss the first episode of The Chosen. Thank you for your input. Jesus is said to have cast seven evil spirits out of her (Luke 8:1-3). I have Bible studies/discussion guides for each episode of The Chosen Seasons 1-3, blogs exploring how The Chosen adapts key biblical figures, and articles exploring the controversial nature of adaptation. This shift in our societal understanding of the sex trade has changed the significance of Mary's supposed role as a prostitute. In the same way, we get our first glimpse of the pre-resurrected Jesus as we follow her struggles in the first episode. However, some scholars believe the word would be better translated as demoness and see it is a reference to a Mesopotamian spiritual being. He attempts to heal her and exorcise the evil spirit in her, but he is unsuccessful and concludes that she is beyond hope. To recap: in Episode 5 of Season 2, Mary begins to experience PTSD tied to the trauma of her rape by a Roman solider (implied very quickly in Episode 1 Season 1). In Episode 8, we see that Mary is still struggling a bit - her failure is driving her to be a bit too unrelenting in her work for Jesus- but other than that she seems to be back on track. In The Chosen, when we first meet Mary Magdalene, most of the characters refer to her as Lili. Under the influence of this tradition, many people see Mary as being emblematic of Jesus' compassion for lost and broken souls, and this makes her a perfect candidate for the kinds of stories that The Chosen wants to tell. Enough said.). It hints at where the show is going: This passage takes place after Jesus' death and resurrection at the end of the Gospels. Thank you! Have my posts about Bible adaptation helped you learn more about the Bible and explore it with your ministry or family? Have you seen other examples of how Jesus can show up suddenly and change someone's life in a big way? Jesus heals her evil spirit(s) at the end of Episode 1. Explain: The Chosen is a multi-season streaming series that's adapting the four Gospels. The Chosen Season 3: What to Expect & How to Watch, The Chosen Season 3 Episode 1 & Episode 2: Reaction and Analysis, The Chosen Season 3 Episode 3: Recap, Review, & Analysis, The Chosen Season 3 Episodes 1 & 2: Questions to Discuss Before the Premiere, Preparing for The Chosen Season 3: 7 Episodes to Watch, I am the Law of Moses (The Chosen Season 3 Controversy), Little James in The Chosen & Scripture ***Season 3***, Judas in The Chosen ***Season 3 Update***, Matthew in The Chosen ***Season 3 Update***, Simon and Andrew in The Chosen ***Season 3 Update***, Lilith, Demons, & Evil Spirits in The Chosen, Simon the Zealot & Nathanael in The Chosen, Quintus, Gaius, and the Romans in The Chosen. In Episode 6, Jesus sends Peter and Matthew to find Mary and bring her back. When he encounters her again in Season 1 Episode 2, he is surprised to discover that she has been completely healed and is free of the evil spirits. I agree with the Twitter post that the show clearly depicts Mary as a victim of rape/sexual assault, but prostitutes often are victims of rape and sexual assault. According to the Gospel accounts, Jesus cleansed her of seven demons, and she financially aided him in Galilee. It's also strange that we never actually return back to the fact that Mary was having PTSD - Jesus forgives her fall but doesn't say anything about her ongoing suffering (perhaps that's a storyline for a future season). Im not sure many people caught this, but when Jesus follows Mary outside, he calls to her saying, Mary of Magdala! Mary then turns around, dropping her jar and says to him, How do you know my name? I think one could make sense of the Mary/Lilith name in that scene alone. When they are engaged in sin, it's often a result of their difficult circumstances or their status as outsiders, and so what they primarily need is love and acceptance, not forgiveness and repentance. However, Jesus knew her real name. Also the guy who plays Jesus is Catholic, which is kind of cool. The difference between its depiction of her life as a prostitute, with super-sexualized clothing and a zebra chariot, and The Chosen's depiction of her life is emblematic of changing views of prostitutes between the 1920's and today. They prompt us to consider how these two events, Mary's first encounter with Jesus and her first encounter with the risen Jesus, are connected in a deeper way. I hope you enjoy them! The Gospels don't tell us very much about what these women do, with the significant exception of the burial and resurrection, but this provides leeway for female characters to play a more significant role throughout the ministry of Jesus and not just when they are mentioned. One day (hopefully) we viewers will get our first glimpse of the resurrected Jesus as we follow Mary to the empty tomb. In The Chosen, when we first meet Mary Magdalene, most of the characters refer to her as Lili. The Bible includes Mary Magdalene in a list of women who had evil spirits healed by Jesus. When Nicodemus encounters her, we discover that the evil spirit that is possessing her is named Lilith. However, some scholars believe the word would be better translated as demoness and see it is a reference to a Mesopotamian spiritual being. Episode 1 depicts how she got these demons cast out of her by Jesus. Why do you think The Chosen is trying to connect episode 1 to what will happen when Jesus is resurrected? The last passage is an optional bonus for youth that like digging deeper. In The Chosen, when we first meet Mary Magdalene, most of the characters refer to her as Lili. Can you think of moments when you may need to be reminded that God is with you? Moreover, her biblical significance has been amplified even more by the attention that she's received from the interpretative and artistic traditions of the West. Over time, there's been a growing awareness of how most women end up in prostitution: not because they are innately promiscuous but rather as a result of coercion, sexual trauma, and systemic inequities. Episode 8 Guide: The Woman at the Well, Eden, & Zohara, Christmas with The Chosen: The Messengers, The Chosen Season 2 Controversy (Jesus, the Bible, & the Process of Inspiration), Should Nicodemus Kneel? The Chosen isn't trying to mess with the Bible. Although we'll have to wait in order to understand fully what the show wants us to conclude, this could be a subtle and effective way to show how Jesus' ability to heal and save is ultimately grounded in his willingness to die and rise again. I think Mary went by Lilith when she came to Magdala, not scripturally speaking, but for the story line. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Just before Luke introduces us to Mary Magdalene, he tells a story about a prostitute that Jesus forgives (Luke 7:36-50). And we also just had fun chatting about random stuff, like how Quintus was totally fitting the stereotype of the evil bald guy. Yes, we see that Jesus had warm and empowering relationships with females. This story was invented by The Chosen for the purposes of the plot. Be that as it may, the Gospel of Luke tells us that there were women who went Jesus and names Mary Magdalene among them (Luke 8:1-3). The Gospels never refer to Mary as Lilith. This passage is one of the few appearances of Mary Magdalene in the Gospels. Due to COVID restrictions, my youth group watched The Chosen online using Zoom. Have my posts about Bible adaptation helped you learn more about the Bible and explore it with your ministry or family? Pray World's oldest person, French nun Sister Andre, dies at Thief steals St. Michael statue from church, trips, and A photo I took of our altar at Midnight Mass this Christmas, Mother on death bed, priest refused to see her. Literally none of that is in Scripture or sacred tradition and that bothers me! She struggles to believe that she can be accepted after falling back into her old life but Jesus forgives her and the disciples embrace her. I love this series. Anyway, I love the series. Mary Magdalene is never called Lili or Lilith in the Bible. Your contributions mean so much. In The Chosen, when we first meet Mary Magdalene, most of the characters refer to her as Lili. But why does Mary Magdalene get all the attention and not Joanna or Susanna, who are also mentioned? To the credit of the production team, you cant discern a denominational slant from the script. However, a post by the official Twitter account for The Chosen claims that Mary is not being portrayed as a prostitute. The Bible never mentions "the Red Quarter." Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. One other thing - the show could have allowed some of the disciples (like John) to go a bit further in being judgmental toward after her return. And just like one day Mary Magdalene will be the first witness to the risen Jesus (perhaps to Nicodemus as well as the disciples), the show also makes her the first witness that we see in action. What's disappointing is that it doesn't delve too far into the implications of this. Jesus clearly expected his disciples to sin frequently and made it clear that he was committed to pursuing them and offering forgiveness (Matthew 18:10-35). Narrative Ambiguity & Charitable Reading, The Chosen: 6 Good Friday & Easter Episodes, The Rings of Power, LOTR, and Bible Adaptation, Amazon Prime's The Rings of Power & The Challenges of Biblical Adaptation, In Defense of The Chosen and Other Christian Movies, Books, & Media (Part 1), In Defense of The Chosen and Other Christian Movies, Books, & Media (Part 2), Imagining Mary Magdalene (5 More Bible Adaptations While You Wait for The Chosen Season 2), The Chosen Season 3 Episode 6: Recap, Review, & Analysis, Intensity in Tent City (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 6 with Youth or Small Group), The Chosen Season 3 Episode 5: Recap, Review, & Analysis, Clean Part 2 (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 5 with Youth or Small Group), The Chosen Season 3 Episode 4: Recap, Review, & Analysis, Clean Part 1 (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 4 with Youth or Small Group), Physician, Heal Thyself (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 3 with Youth or Small Group), Two by Two (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 2 with Youth or Small Group), Little James in The Chosen & Scripture (Adapting Biblical Characters), Homecoming (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 1 with Youth or Small Group), John the Baptist in The Chosen (Adapting Biblical Characters), Lilith, Demons, & Evil Spirits in The Chosen (Adapting Biblical Characters), 2022 BY THE BIBLE ARTIST. If you liked this post, you might want to check out some of my other posts on The Chosen and Bible adaptation. There are also characters and stories from the Gospels that the creators have left out. (he calls her by her name), How does this connect to what happened in episode 1? After sharing that information, you can ask: What stuck out to you about Mary Magdalene's depiction in The Chosen? Meanwhile, in the youth ministry that I lead, I had the chance to view and discuss season one of The Chosen with several high schoolers and found it very fruitful. The creators of The Chosen probably chose this name because it is associated with demons in Jewish traditions. As I noted above, in the Bible there is no indication that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. You can find episode one free on YouTube here, although there are lots of ads. I offer my work for free and rely on the generous support of readers like you. East pencil writes or draws used for note taking West pencil is yellow has a eraser and lead. In The Chosen, it is not entirely clear whether Mary Magdalene was engaging in prostitution before the events of Season 1, Episode 1. And just like one day Mary will initially fail to recognize the risen Jesus, confusing him for a gardener, she initially fails to recognize Jesus when he first comes to her, confusing him for one of the men who's been hassling her. Im not a person who cries during Jesus movies, but Ive cried several times during this series, because you can just feel the humanity of the scenes and everything is ten times more relatable. In The Chosen, we see a brief flashback during Season 1, Episode 1 that strongly implies that Mary was raped by a Roman soldier. In the passage, who is it that says, "I have called you by name"? ***Update: Learn more about the origin of "Lilith" in my recent post ***. When Nicodemus encounters her, we discover that the evil spirit that is possessing her is named Lilith. More importantly, allowing some of the disciples to judge Mary a bit more would have added more tension and could have fueled future arcs. She is clearly sleeping with a man out of wedlock when the episode begins and they are sleeping together in "the Red Quarter" - a sleazy part of town. The second passage is the Scripture that Mary has written down: This passage that Mary's father taught her is from the Book of Isaiah. . We turned it into a bit of a game, where one of my youth would constantly ask "Is that Jesus?" Her association with prostitution was a result of the proximity between the first mention of her in Luke (Luke 8:1-3) and a story about a prostitute (Luke 7:36-50). You can find episode one, The Bible includes Mary Magdalene in a list of women who had evil spirits healed by Jesus. The creators of The Chosen probably chose this name because it is associated with demons in Jewish traditions. Later Jewish tradition described a demonic figure known as Lilith in a variety of ways. Click here for my affiliation policy. Starting around episode three I think is when it finds its groove. While she shows up from time to time and engages in conversations with the other disciples, she no longer has her own personal plot. Her association with prostitution was a result of the proximity between the first mention of her in Luke (. By noting how Mary is in the "Red Quarter", The Chosen is implying that she is a prostitute. When he encounters her again in Season 1 Episode 2, he is surprised to discover that she has been completely healed and is free of the evil spirits. After Jesus heals her evil spirit, she resumes calling herself "Mary," her birth name, and refuses to answer to the name associated with her spiritual oppression. I think the producer said he wanted to do eight seasons total. There was just a hint of judgment in Episode 7, but it gets brushed aside way too quickly, given the cultural expectations. In The Chosen, Nicodemus meets Mary Magdalene in Season 1, Episode 1. There's a sense in which Mary's demons might be seen as a metaphor for the oppressive forces that brought her into her life in the sex trade but this is only barely suggested. The Chosen introduces a lot of characters and expects us to just keep up. (Jesus), What about Jesus' identity does this hint at? Hopefully though, season 2 will find more ways to develop her character in a manner that's dynamic and engaging, because there's still much that could be done. Jesus is said to have cast seven evil spirits out of her (, As I noted above, in the Bible there is no indication that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. I thought Mary's storyline in Season 2 of The Chosen had a lot of potential but it was unfortunately not given enough room to breathe. **Update: I explore the origin of the name "Lilith" in my recent post **. There you go! The creators of The Chosen have published interactive Bible Studies that are meant to explore some of the Scripture and biblical themes that inspired Season 1 and help viewers apply them to everyday life. To recap: in, One other thing - the show could have allowed some of the disciples (like John) to go a bit further in being judgmental toward after her return. We need to remember the perspective is of east and west are different East is how it performs, what it does its function West they would describe what it is or made of. Catholic Christianity offers the world the fullness of the Christian Faith. In The Chosen, Nicodemus meets Mary Magdalene in Season 1, Episode 1. The creators of The Chosen have published a series of interactive Bible Studies that help viewers explore some of the Scripture and biblical themes that inspired the show. It's certainly not, Due to COVID restrictions, my youth group watched The Chosen online using Zoom. These experiences cause Mary to flee back to her old life, drinking and gambling. EDIT: I still have my concerns, but I believe my rash judgment is sinful, so I'll keep it to myself. PROUDLY CREATED WITH WIX.COM, Mary Magdalene, Lilith, & the Redeemer (Exploring The Chosen with Youth), Elizabeth Tabish as Lilith/Mary Magdalene in The Chosen, Over the past year, we've been exploring how The Chosen adapts biblical characters like, You may want to warn students beforehand that this episode contains some demonic activity. In the Bible, there is no indication that Mary Magdalene was raped. So you have to watch past the first couple episodes to get to the good ones. Instead of being a femme fatale that Jesus needs to resist and tame, Mary Magdalene the prostitute is seen as an object of compassion and pity that Jesus needs to provide acceptance and safety. This story was invented by The Chosen for the purposes of the plot. I have Bible studies/discussion guides for each episode of The Chosen Seasons 1-3, blogs exploring how The Chosen adapts key biblical figures, and articles exploring the controversial nature of adaptation. She is clearly sleeping with a man out of wedlock when the episode begins and they are sleeping together in "the Red Quarter" - a sleazy part of town. Just before Luke introduces us to Mary Magdalene, he tells a story about a prostitute that Jesus forgives (, Since I criticized Season 1 of The Chosen for making Mary too perfect, it's only fair that I acknowledge how Season 2 seeks to rectify that issue. The trauma of her rape is hinted at again in Season 2, Episode 5, and is the trigger that causes Mary to backslide. I found that my youth struggled to sort out the different characters, so you might want to do a quick slide show of the key characters using the character images I've included throughout this post. In the Bible, there is no indication that Mary Magdalene fell back into sin, backslid, or left Jesus. Because The Chosen seeks to be kid-friendly, it most likely uses the term "Red Quarter" in order to hint to older viewers that Mary is a prostitute without explicitly mentioning prostitution or sex. Why do you think they were removed? Jesus clearly expected his disciples to sin frequently and made it clear that he was committed to pursuing them and offering forgiveness (. Having offered some criticism, I will say that the scene of Jesus forgiving Mary was moving. The Bible never suggests Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. There is however a very clear disclaimer at the beginning of the series saying this isnt word-for-word and its no replacement for reading your Bible, etc. There was just a hint of judgment in, Mary Magdalene was a female disciple who traveled with Jesus during his ministry (, All four Gospels suggest Mary was the first witness of the resurrected Jesus (, The Bible includes Mary Magdalene in a list of women who had evil spirits healed by Jesus. In the Bible, there is no indication that Nicodemus met Mary Magdalene or that he tried to heal her or exorcise her evil spirits. Her association with prostitution was a result of the proximity between the first mention of her in Luke (Luke 8:1-3) and a story about a prostitute (Luke 7:36-50). However, some biblical interpreters mistakenly labeled her as such because the story before Luke 8 is about a prostitute being forgiven. Lilith was close to committing suicide by walking off a cliff before a dove (Holy Spirit) caught her interest and she followed it back to town, where she had an emotional moment being healed by Jesus who quoted her trusted childhood Bible verse from Isaiah and exorcised her with a hug. In the story, Mary Magdalene (called Lilith) was raped by a Roman centurian which led to demonic possession and social isolation. (for LOTR: Tom Bombadil. Thank you! When Nicodemus encounters her, we discover that the evil spirit that is possessing her is named Lilith. In The Chosen, we see a brief flashback during Season 1, Episode 1 that strongly implies that Mary was raped by a Roman soldier. Many Christians still memorize this passage to remind them of how God is always with us, even in the most difficult trials. An adaptation like The Chosen isn't meant to replace the Bible; it's meant to drive us deeper into the Bible and spiritual reflection. Episode 7 Guide: Did Nicodemus Follow Jesus? Season 2 Reflection P1: What is The Chosen Season 2 about? I hope you enjoy them! For the most part, I just clarified who characters were (see my comment above) and occasionally I briefly explained a reference or allusion that was confusing to my youth. FYI: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Jesus is said to have cast seven evil spirits out of her (Luke 8:1-3). After Jesus heals her evil spirit, she resumes calling herself "Mary," her birth name, and refuses to answer to the name associated with her spiritual oppression. Luke notes that Mary had seven spirits exorcised from her, but the other women experienced miraculous healing as well. (ex. Still, at the end of the day, the 12 disciples who get the most screen time in the Gospels are all males. (the Lord), Who is it that says these words in the show? Although The Chosen is still a few seasons away from the Resurrection of Jesus, it is clearly beginning with the end in mind. Luke notes that Mary had seven spirits exorcised from her, but the other women experienced miraculous healing as well. [Update: In the comments below, an astute reader pointed me to a post by the official Twitter for The Chosen, which claims Mary is not being portrayed as a prostitute. She becomes too perfect and seems to have no ongoing struggles in her faith like Peter or Andrew. EDIT: To more specifically address your question about Mary Magdalene, my intuition is that they chose the name Lilith because few viewers are likely to know the name, and so therefore wont confuse her with another Bible character before her true identity is revealed. Her name always was Mary, but through her past of turmoil, mental illness, rape, or whatever else caused her to be mentally tortured, she led everyone to believe she was Lilith. /r/Catholicism is a place to present new developments in the world of Catholicism, discuss theological teachings of the Catholic Church, provide an avenue for reasonable dialogue amongst people of all beliefs, and grow in our own spirituality. Your contributions mean so much. The assumption at that time was that women became prostitutes because they were inherently immoral and desirous. In the modern vernacular, a "red light district" is a term that refers to an area of the city known for prostitution, strip clubs, and other immoral establishments. (he is God). Season 2 Reflection P1: What is The Chosen Season 2 about? Thus, when Jesus first encounters Mary, what he offers her isn't forgiveness for her life of prostitution; it's relief from the oppressive demons that drove her to the type of life that she's lived. [SPOILERS] Is the Jon Snow spin-off really such a good idea? And to be fair, there isnt a whole lot of backstory for any of the disciples in the Bible, so its not a surprise the writers filled in the blanks with some artistic license. When making the Chosen, he is advised by a Catholic Priest, Rabbi, and Evangelical Pastor. Dallas Jenkins (Director) is not Catholic, but - in my mind - makes the best Christian films I have seen anywhere. In the modern vernacular, a "red light district" is a term that refers to an area of the city known for prostitution, strip clubs, and other immoral establishments. Later Jewish tradition described a demonic figure known as Lilith in a variety of ways. The Bible never mentions "the Red Quarter." Matthew, Mark, and John also describe Mary as a witness of Jesus' crucifixion/burial (Matthew 27:55-61, Mark 15:40-47, and John 19:25). (Plots & Theme), Episode 2 Guide: Philip, Nathanael, & Matthew, Episode 3 Guide: Life Among the Disciples of Jesus, Episode 4 Guide: Simon the Zealot & the Man at the Bethesda Pool, Episode 5 Guide: Mary's Demons & the Destiny of John the Baptist, Episode 8 Guide: Judas, Matthew, & the Sermon on the Mount, Episode 1 Guide: Mary Magdalene, Lilith, and the Redeemer, Episode 2 Guide: Mary Magdalene, Nicodemus, and Shabbat, Episode 3 Guide: Depicting Jesus in Art, Film, and TV, Episode 4 Guide: When Jesus Met Simon (Peter), Episode 6 Guide: Jesus, Shmuel, & the Pharisees. (Plots & Theme), Episode 2 Guide: Philip, Nathanael, & Matthew, Episode 3 Guide: Life Among the Disciples of Jesus, Episode 4 Guide: Simon the Zealot & the Man at the Bethesda Pool, Episode 5 Guide: Mary's Demons & the Destiny of John the Baptist, Episode 8 Guide: Judas, Matthew, & the Sermon on the Mount, Episode 1 Guide: Mary Magdalene, Lilith, and the Redeemer, Episode 2 Guide: Mary Magdalene, Nicodemus, and Shabbat, Episode 3 Guide: Depicting Jesus in Art, Film, and TV, Episode 4 Guide: When Jesus Met Simon (Peter), Episode 6 Guide: Jesus, Shmuel, & the Pharisees. This version of Mary - not the one who needs moral reformation but the one who needs sympathy and belonging - fits perfectly with the kinds of stories that The Chosen has focused on. See a Roman centurion fill Lilith/Mary s sight, a suggestion that the woman have. In The Chosen, it is not entirely clear whether Mary Magdalene was engaging in prostitution before the events of Season 1, Episode 1. Personally, I would have been much more interested in a subplot about Mary's former pimp trying to coerce her back into her former life than I am with the overly long fish taxation plot. This is Tom My 3 month old son is battling an extremely rare and [Free Friday] after an early miscarriage 3 weeks ago, I Our new campus chapel is so close to being ready! If you liked this post, you might want to check out some of my other posts on The Chosen and Bible adaptation. As it was, we didn't really get a good sense of why Mary responded the way she did. It's odd? This comes out powerfully in the first Episode like to show you why is mary magdalene called lilith in the chosen here. I will definitely continue watching it then, I just wanted to make sure! Why do you think the creators added them? Jesus heals her evil spirit(s) at the end of Episode 1. The Chosen does the "misunderstood reject rather than sinner" quite a bit in Season 1, but I think it's a sensible direction for Mary's character. Its not perfect, but its a pretty great start. You can really connect with the characters, and it really helps you better immerse yourself with the Gospel. I take comments made by The Chosen Twitter account with a grain of salt, especially since they are most likely made by digital marketers and not the actual creators of The Chosen. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. She is clearly sleeping with a man out of wedlock when the episode begins and they are sleeping together in "the Red Quarter" - a sleazy part of town. Although there's nothing in the Gospels that suggests that these two figures should be linked together, Mary mistakenly became identified with the forgiven prostitute in the interpretative tradition of the Western Church. I can appreciate what theyre trying to do with the show: Theyre taking their time to build your relationship with the characters and to delve into some of the backstory so that everyone becomes a three-dimensional person, not just a mumbling zombie foil for Jesus. This association with prostitution opens a variety of directions for adaptations to take in their portrayal of her, especially given the affection Jesus shows for her (John 20). It's certainly not The Exorcist, but demonic stuff can really freak some people out. (he calls her by name at the end when he heals her). Below I'll share an outline describing how to do a Viewing Party for The Chosen Episode 1 (I Have Called You by Name). I also suggest setting expectations for the first episode. Initially Mary doesn't recognize Jesus. Unfortunately, because Mary's change happens so quickly, her character goes from being pretty dynamic in episodes 1-2 to being a pretty flat in the remainder of the season. In The Chosen, during Season 2, Episodes 5-6, Mary Magdalene briefly leaves Jesus and falls back into sin, before being sought out, forgiven, and restored to ministry. In The Chosen, when we first Mary Magdalene in Season 1 Episode 1, she has already been possessed by an evil spirit, Lilith, for some time. For more details, check out my post focused specifically on Lilith, Demons, and Evil Spirits. I hope I better can temper myself. They speak to different audiences & look good on screen), Can you think of characters or stories that the film left out? The trauma of her rape is hinted at again in Season 2, Episode 5, and is the trigger that causes Mary to backslide. I offer my work for free and rely on the generous support of readers like you. Thats as far off-script as they go for the rest of the season, everything else is pretty true to a harmonized Gospel narrative. Mary Magdalene is never called Lili or Lilith in the Bible. Interestingly, The King of Kings (1927) also uses Mary Magdalene to introduce us to Jesus for the first time. [SPOILERS] what is Jordan Peele's 'Nope' about? For more details, check out my post focused specifically on Lilith, Demons, and Evil Spirits. Nicodemus was brought in to perform an exorcism on her but failed, making him question the fullness of the Law. To clarify why the creators would want to add new characters and stories and leave some stories out, you could ask the following questions: What are some other popular adaptations of books into film or television? The creators make changes in order to adapt the biblical stories to TV. Mary Magdalene is never called Lili or Lilith in the Bible. The Chosen Season 3: What to Expect & How to Watch, The Chosen Season 3 Episode 1 & Episode 2: Reaction and Analysis, The Chosen Season 3 Episodes 1 & 2: Questions to Discuss Before the Premiere, Preparing for The Chosen Season 3: 7 Episodes to Watch, I am the Law of Moses (The Chosen Season 3 Controversy), Little James in The Chosen & Scripture ***Season 3***, Judas in The Chosen ***Season 3 Update***, Matthew in The Chosen ***Season 3 Update***, Simon and Andrew in The Chosen ***Season 3 Update***, Lilith, Demons, & Evil Spirits in The Chosen, Simon the Zealot & Nathanael in The Chosen, Quintus, Gaius, and the Romans in The Chosen. For Mary's actual fall, it felt like the show was trying too hard to keep her character PG. These parallels are more than a neat bit of foreshadowing. I'm not saying we needed to see anything explicit, but the show certainly could have implied a bit more than it did. 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